Folding crate.



- 1 I PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905. E. KREUTZBERG, A. BROOKSOHMIDT & P. RYAN. FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB-23. 1905. r 1

2 SHEETSSHIJBT 1.

Wlt sses lnven-tbrs w g b l I y v I I I 7 x J Attorneff No. 806,350. I PATENTED DEC, 5, 1905.

E. KREUTZBBRG, A. BROGKSOHMIDT & P. RYAN.

FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION II'LBD 14113.23. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Attorneys NITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST KREUTZBERG, AUGUST BROCKSOHMIDT, AND PATRICK RYAN, OF PIERCE CITY, MISSOURI FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905,

Annlication 1116a March 2s,19o 5.- Serial No.2511693.

To: all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ERNST KREUTZBERG, AUcUsT BROOKSOHMIDT, and PATRICK RYAN,

citizens of the United States, residing at,

I presenta device of the class referred to which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency; and with these and other ends in view, which? will readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists .m the improved construction and novelarrangement and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims,

. In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of em bodiment of the invention, it being, however,

understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that the right is reserved to any changes, alterations, and modifications '11 to which recourse may be had within the scope of the invention and without departing 1 from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the same.

In said drawings, Fi ure 1 is a perspective view of the improved olding crate, showing the same with the top raised above the bottom in the act of being extended, but the ends and sides being folded upon the bottom. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view show- 1 ing thegcrate extended for use. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2'. Fig. 4 is an end view showing the crate folded. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one end of the crate in a folded position.

- -Corresponding parts in the several figures I are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The improved crate is composed, essentially, of a bottom member 1, atop member 2, end members 3 3, and side members 4 4.

The bottom member 1 includes a solid bottom 5, which may becomposed of a single or strengthening the construction.

The top member 2 is composed of a rectangularframe consisting ofside pieces 8 8 and end pieces'9 9, each'of such dimensions vertically as to combine to constitute a casing for the side and end members 3 3 and 44' when the structure is folded. Longitudinal slats 10 10 are supported u on and connected with the end pieces 9 of t eframe, and the side members 8 of the latter are connected by .a transverse brace 11, which is mortised into the upper ends of said side piecesand which serves as additional supporting means for the slats 1.0. A central slat 12 is also provided, said slat being supported loosely in wire loops '13 u on the end pieces 9 and in an auxiliary wire loop 14 upon the brace 11. The slat 12 is provided with a notch 15, engaging one end of the loop 14, in the direction of which it is forced by means of a spring 16 of any suitable construction, said spring being disposed between the slat 12 and an adjacent slat 10 and supported in partupon the cross-brace The end members 3 are each composed of a plurality of slats 17, connected by stiles or uprights 18, the lower ends of which are con.-

.nected, by means of rectangular links 19, with the inner edges of the end cleats 6 of the bot tom member, said links engaging in'eyes 20,

formed upon metallic plates 21, which are secured, respectively, upon the cleats 6 and near thelower ends of the stiles 18, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 2,.

The side members 4 are composed. each of a plurality of slats 22, connected by stiles or w uprights 23, the lower ends of which are conneoted, by means of hinges 24,:with the cleats 6 and 7 ,near the ends of said cleats, and in such a manneras to be capable of folding IOO downwardlyin the direction of the bottom plate 5.

sions of the parts Wi be. so regulated that It-will be readily aplparent that the dimenhooks 25, and similar locking-hooks are connected with the ends of the bottom member of the crate, said hooks being alike in this respect, that their points are turned downward for engagement with locking-levers 26, which are pivotally mounted upon the inner sides of the end pieces 9 of the frame of the top member of the crate. These locking-levers, which are provided with inturned hook-engaging arms 27, are also provided with upwardly extending arms 28, which lie in the path of the ends of the movable spring-actuated slat 12, whereby said levers are retained in engaging position.

The bottom plate 5 is provided at the ends thereof with clips 29, which are connected, by means of toggles 30, with the end members 9 of the frame of the top member 2, the upper links of said toggles being pivoted upon the inner sides of said end members. The ends of the cleats 6 and 7 upon the bottom plate 5 are provided with notches or recesses 31, affording seats for the side pieces 8 of the top member 2 when the crate is collapsed.

When the improved crate is extended in position for use, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the lower ends of the stiles 18 of the end members 3 are supported upon the end cleats 6 6, near the outer edges of the latter, the connecting-links 19 occupying an approximately horizontal position above said cleats. The lower ends of the stiles 23 of the side members are likewise supported upon the cleats 6 and 7, adjacent to the notches 31 in said cleats, and said side members are braced in an upright position by means of the end members, the ends of the slats 17 of which abut upon the inner sides of the stiles 22, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. The top member 2, which is connected with the bottom member 1 by the toggles 30, is

retained in a raised position by the end of the side members and is thus prevented from collapsing, and the end members, be ing locked in position by the locking-levers 26, engaging the hook members 25, will positively prevent the crate from. collapsing, the locking-levers themselves being secured in engaging position by the action of the spring-actuated slat 12. To collapse the crate, the locking-levers 26 are disengaged from the hooks 25 and the upper ends of the end members are tilted inwardly until said end members may be lifted from contact' with the cleats 6, and their lower ends be swung inwardly upon the links 19 until said end members will fold down flat against the bottom plate 5, as will be seen clearly in Fig.

5 of the drawings. The side members 1 1 may then be folded down flat upon the end members, and the toggles 30 will then readily collapse in an inward direction, permitting the top member 2 to be lowered upon the bottom member 1 until the side members 8 of said top member are supported in the seats 31. The locking-levers 26 may now be placed in engagement with the hooks 25, thus securing the crate in its folded condition. It will be observed that the frame, composed of the side members 8 and the end members 9, completely surrounds the structure when folded, thus protecting the parts from injury in transit.

As will be readily understood, the crate or coop may be filled or emptied through either end by folding the end members 3 in an in ward direction.

This improved crate or coop, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is very simple, and it may be constructed at a moderate expense. 'It may be very easily and quickly extended for use or collapsed into very small compass considering the folding capacity thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a folding crate, a bottom member having transverse cleats provided with recesses at the ends thereof, end and side members foldably connected with said cleats, a top member including a frame having side members adapted to be seated in the re cesses at the ends of the transverse cleats of the bottom member, and toggles connecting the bottom and top members.

2. In a folding crate, a bottom member, end and side members foldably connected therewith, a top member including a rectangular frame, a spring-actuated slat, and locking-levers fulcrumed upon the inner sides of the end members of the frame and having arms extended in the path of the spring-actuated slat toggles connecting the bottom and top members; and lockinghooks at the ends of the bottom member and at the upper edges of the end members adapted for engagement with the locking-levers.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNST KREUTZBERG. AUGUST BROCKSCHMIDT. PATRICK RYAN.

Witnesses:

B. O. HAMPTON, J. B. VVILLIAMs. 

